Miss Bryan writes “express yourself” on the blackboard.
Miss Bryan: I want everyone to think about a special dream they had and then draw it.
Buster starts drawing.
Arthur: I think it's pretty easy to figure out the kind of special dream Buster would have.
In Arthur's fantasy, Buster plays a computer game on a large robot’s chest. His mother calls.
Mrs. Baxter: Buster, have you done your homework?
Buster: Oh, no! Robot! I almost forgot!
Robot: Don't worry, master. Robot's never forget.
It prints out homework.
Buster: Perfect!
In another fantasy. Muffy has a tea party with a copy of herself in her room.
Arthur (narrator): And I know the kind of dream Muffy would like to have come true.
Muffy 1: More tea?
Muffy 2: Gladly. I adore your dress, by the way
Muffy 1: Thank you. You have wonderful perception.
The fantasies end. Muffy draws while humming to herself.
Muffy: (hums “Song of Joy”) Francine is drawing beside her.
Arthur: But what Francine wants is the most obvious of all.
A fantasy shows Francine ride past Westboro Appartments on a horse. Her dad stands on the balcony and holds a lunchbox with two horseshoes on it.
Mr. Frensky: Don't forget your lunch, honey!
He throws down the lunchbox and Francine catches it.
Francine: Thanks, Dad! Giddy-up!
Her horse starts to gallop.
Muffy and Brain stand in front of the school with their bikes. Binky stands next to them.
Muffy: I don't care what anybody says. My bike is the most powerful! I mean, how many speeds does your bike have, Brain? Mine has fifteen.
Brain: I'm afraid I must disagree. Mine with its half-horsepower assist is far superior.
Binky: Wow! All I can say is...
A horse neighs. Francine arrives and makes the horse jump over a bikestand.
Brain+Muffy: Wow!
Francine: Hi, guys!
The fantasy ends. Francine has drawn herself on a horse and Binky next to it. The real Binky looks over her shoulder.
Drawn Binky: A horse?!
Binky: You've never even been on a horse! (laughs)
Francine: Just wait, Binky Barnes! Just you wait!
In her drawing, she rides off so fast that Binky spins like a spinning top.
~~~
Title Card: Francine Bangs Gong
~~~
Mr. and Mrs. Frensky read in the living room. Francine comes in with some dollar bills.
Francine: I did it! I saved thirty whole dollars!
Mr. Frensky: That's great, honey! Is it for something special?
Francine: For riding lessons! You said if I could save the money, you'd take me! The parents exchange embarrassed looks. Right?
~~~
Francine and her parents sit at the dinner table. Francine pushes away a plate of cookies.
Francine: I told you, I'm never eating again!
Mrs. Frensky: Honey, it's not that we won't keep our promise. If we said you could learn to ride, then we want you to be able to do it.
Mr. Frensky: But the lessons are during the day when we're both at work. And you're too young to go by yourself.
Catherine comes in.
Catherine: Hi, guys!
Mr. Frensky looks mischievously.
Mr. Frensky: But, if someone older, someone kind and generous, was willing to take you, then that would be another story.
Francine: No way!
Catherine: Whatever it is, I'm not doing it, and that's final!
~~~
Francine and Catherine ride their bikes to the stable.
Catherine: I can't believe I have to do this!
Francine: Quit moaning! Mom and Dad are paying for the lessons and it wasn't cheap.
Catherine: Right, and that's the point! There goes my new fall wardrobe! I could have gotten my ears pierced! Or at least I could have had some say in how they spent their savings! You know, it really makes me mad how they never ask my opinion.
Francine: Catherine! Don't look now but... you have a hole in your pants!
Catherine stops abruptly.
Catherine: Where??
Francine: (laughs)
~~~
Francine and Catherine arrive at Algeria Farms.
Catherine: I told you this place was creepy.
A pickup truck driven by a good-looking young man pulls up.
Stanley: Hey, are you here for the riding lessons?
Catherine: Hh!
Stanley: I'm Stanley, the instructor. Ready for some fun?
Catherine looks entranced at Stanley while Francine looks annoyed.
Catherine: Fun? Of course. (giggles) We love fun. Right, Francine?
Stanley drives off.
Catherine: You can't have too much fun! (giggles) That's what I always say.
Francine: Would you relax! It's only a boy!
They follow Stanley.
~~~
Catherine and Francine stand in the stable. Stanley leads a horse to them.
Stanley: Now, the first thing is to meet the horses. Get to know them a bit. This guy's name is Bronco.
Francine: Can we pet him?
Stanley: Sure. Just remember, horses spook easily. So you want to be very gentle.
Catherine touches Bronco's nose.
Catherine: It's just like velvet. Or a really nice cotton/poly blend.
Stanley: That's it. Nice and easy.
Francine: Let me try! She rushes to the horse which rears up. Aah! Whoa! Is he like a wild stallion or something?!
Stanley: Actually, he's usually pretty gentle. He's all yours.
He leads Bronco out of the stable.
~~~
A short while later, Francine stands outside beside Bronco wearing a riding helmet and gloves. Stanley and Catherine stand beside two other horses.
Stanley: All set? Left hand on the reins... left foot in the stirrup...and up.
Stanley and Catherine get in the saddle. Francine tries and falls down.
Francine: Oof!
Stanley runs up to her.
Stanley: Don't feel bad. This will be a lot easier in a few years when you're taller.
He picks Francine up and puts her in the saddle.
Francine: Wow! This is really, really... The horse starts moving. ...high. Hey! Whoa! How do you make him stop?
~~~
Later, Francine tries to pull Bronco away from some leaves he is munching.
Francine: Come on, Bronco. How do you make him go?
Stanley and Catherine ride past.
Stanley: You have to show him who's boss.
Catherine: That's right, Francine. Show him who's boss!
Francine: Did you hear that, Bronco? I'm the boss. Bronco neighs at her. Huh? Okay! No pressure. Whatever.
Bronco goes back to eating leaves.
~~~
That evening, Francine and Catherine lie in bed reading. Francine reads a book on horses and looks unhappy. Mr. Frensky looks in.
Mr. Frensky: So, how'd it go? Are you the queen of the wild frontier?
Francine: I'm kind of tired, Dad. Can we talk about it tomorrow?
Mr. Frensky: Sure, kiddo. Anything you say.
Catherine: Well, I don't mind talking about it. It was really great! We mostly walked today, but Stanley said I did so well that he might let me try to trot tomorrow, or the day after.
Francine finds a picture of a horse looking like Bronco in her book. In her imagination, it gives her a mischievous grin. She closes the book and turns off the light.
~~~
The screen is dark at first, because Francine is sitting on Bronco with her eyes closed. Stanley stands beside her.
Stanley: Are you scared, Francine?
Francine: Are you kidding?! I was born to ride!
Stanley: You're going to have to open your eyes, then. Francine does and sees Stanley's face. I promise, you won't fall. I'll be right here. Okay?
Francine: Okay.
Stanley starts leading Bronco in a circle.
Francine: Stop! It's too fast!
Stanley stops the horse.
Stanley: Good start. Next time, we'll take it a little bit slower.
Catherine trots by on her horse without any assistance.
Catherine: This is easy! I could do it for ever!
Francine: Show-off.
In her imagination, there is a show jumping event.
Announcer: You've seen her demolish the competition at bat, you've thrilled to her skill at the plate, and now the ruler of the ring - Francine Frensky, Olympic rider!
Francine rides into the stadium. Arthur and Muffy are in the audience.
Announcer: All you folks out there who thought Francine was too bossy... Yes, Muffy, that means you...
Audience: Boo!
Muffy: Hh!
Brain, Binky and Fern are also in the audience.
Announcer: ...and all you people who didn't believe she could even ride a horse... Binky?
Audience: Boo!
Brain and Fern give Binky dark looks. Binky looks embarrassed.
Announcer: ...eat your hearts out, because Francine's in the Olympics, and you're not!
Francine ride along the parcours. Catherine enters the stadium on a horse.
Announcer: But wait! Look! Over there! It's Francine's sister, who's not only older and taller, but a better rider!
Catherine and her horse take a bow.
Francine: Get out of here! This is my dream!
Catherine: Not any more. Let the games begin!
Catherine rides along the parcours.
Audience: (cheer)
Catherine jumps out of the stadium on her horse. The judges all hold up 10s.
The dream ends. Francine tosses and turns in bed while Catherine sleeps peacefully.
Catherine: (sighs)
~~~
Francine rides very slowly on Bronco. Stanley watches and claps.
Stanley: Much better! Even Bronco's starting to notice!
Bronco: (angry snort)
Francine: Really? Even though I dropped the reins?
Stanley: Don't sweat it! That happens to everyone.
He opens the gate while Francine gets off the horse.
Francine: Okay, Bronco, back to the barn and no more leaves.
Bronco gives the leaves a wistful look but follows Francine to the stables.
Bronco: (wistful sigh)
Inside the stables, Stanley is talking to Francine.
Stanley: We really need some extra help around here. So, if If you're willing to work an hour or two a day, I'll give you free lessons.
Catherine: You're kidding! What about Francine?
Stanley: Well, Francine's doing fine for a beginner, but she's not quite at your level and we usually only offer this to our best students.
Catherine notices Francine running away.
Catherine: Oh, no.
~~~
Later at home, Francine takes a picture of a horse off her wall. Her dad comes in.
Mr. Frensky: Redecorating?
Francine: I just don't like horses any more. They're for babies.
She tears up the picture.
~~~
That evening, the Frenskys have dinner. Only Francine is eating. She acts as if nothing was wrong.
Mrs. Frensky: You're quitting your lessons? But you have another week to go!
Francine: It's boring. I'd rather ride my bike.
Catherine: But Stanley said you were definitely improving.
Francine: Really? I thought he said that I wasn't quite up to your level. May I be excused?
She leaves the table.
~~~
The next day, Francine lies on the couch in her pajamas watching TV.
Francine: (hums)
Caterine comes in fastening her bicycle helmet.
Catherine: Are you sure you don't want to come? We're gonna start jumping today.
Francine: Nah. I'm gonna hang out with my friends. I feel like having some fun for a change.
~~~
Arthur, Buster, Brain and Francine sit or lie in the grass lin the Reads' yard ooking bored.
Arthur: What do you want to do?
Buster: I don't know. What do you wanna do?
Brain: I don't know. What do you wanna do?
Francine: I don't know. What do you wanna do?
Arthur: What do you want to do?
D.W. runs out to them.
D.W.: Arthur! Mom says if you're not doing anything, then we can play covered wagon, and you can be the horse who dies of thirst just ten miles from the end of the desert.
Arthur: Sorry! Uh... I have to go sort through my socks.
He runs off.
Buster: Socks? That sounds like fun.
He runs off.
Brain: I bet with the three of us we could get them sorted in no time.
He runs off.
Francine: What do you want to do? Forget about them, D.W. I'll play horsey with you
D.W.: It's not called horsey! It's called seven days in the desert with wild horses who run free, free as the wind blows, and a little girl who tames them.
Francine: Stop!!
~~~
The next day, Catherine walks to the door with her helmet past Francine who is on the couch again.
Francine: Aren't you gonna ask me if I wanna come?
Catherine: No.
She closes the door behind he, then opens it again.
Catherine: Hey, Francine, I was just thinking. Do you wanna come today?
Francine: Well, if you're gonna keep bugging me, I guess I'll have to.
She takes out her helmet, which was on the couch right beside her.
~~~
Francine and Catherine arrive at Algeria Farms.
Francine: Remember, I don't feel like riding. I'm just going to watch.
Catherine: Suit yourself.
~~~
Catherine jumps over a low bar on her horse while Francine watches from the fence.
Francine: (sighs)
She walks away.
Stanley: Your sister looks like she's going to keep being stubborn.
Catherine: I guess she's a little jealous that I'm a better rider than she is.
Stanley: She'll never get any better until she gets back on a horse.
Catherine: I think I have an idea.
~~~
Francine dangles a carrot in front of Bronco's face which the horse follows with its eyes.
Francine: Hey, Bronco, did you miss me?
Bronco reaches for the carrot, but Francine pulls it away.
Francine: I said, did you miss me?
Bronco nods and whinnies.
Francine: That's better.
She gives him the carrot. Stanley and Catherine come in.
Francine: Oh, hi! I was just going.
Stanley: Before you run off, you might want to hear Catherine's idea.
He leaves. Francine folds her arms.
Catherine: Um, I was thinking that it is a lot of work for me to take care of all these horses, especially after school starts.
Francine: So?
Catherine: So maybe you could help me out and then I could give you a riding lesson.
Francine: You?! Teach me?! Okay. Deal.
They shake hands.
~~~
That night, Catherine empties her piggy bank in the sisters' room while Francine hangs up a new horse picture.
Francine: This is my all-time favorite picture. You can have it.
Catherine: Thanks. I've got fifteen dollars. If we add in your thirty dollars and if I can baby-sit every night for the next... three years, we could buy a horse of our own!
Francine jumps on Catherine's bed.
Francine: I guess we could keep him in the basement. He could live in the storage bin. It's sort of like a stall.
Catherine: We could call him Stanley.
She looks dreamily, while Francine looks annoyed.
Francine: I'm not calling my horse Stanley!
Catherine: Your horse?! It's our horse. In fact, it's really my horse since it will be mostly my money.
Francine: I'm not riding in the Olympics with a horse named Stanley!
Catherine: Who said you're going to the Olympics?! I'm the better rider!
Mr. Frensky is in the hallway. He hears them and smiles. When he looks into their room, the sisters are having a pillow fight.
Francine: Only 'cause you have longer legs! Just wait till I'm older. I'll cream you!
Catherine: The older you get, the older I get!
Francine: Just wait till I make my acceptance speech!
Mr. Frensky closes the door.